NYC Mayor Bloomberg Bans E-Cigarettes on Last Day in Office

Michael Bloomberg, three term mayor of New York City, signed his final final bills into law Monday. Among them was new restrictions on e-cigarettes.

The bill lumps e-cigarettes into the Smoke Free Air Act, meaning that the devices are banned everywhere smoking is banned.

An electronic cigarette or e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that simulates tobacco smoking. It uses a heating element to vaporize a liquid solution containing a mixture of nicotine and flavorings. Many e-cigarettes are designed to look like cigarettes or cigars, while others are considerably different in appearance.

Little is known about how e-cigarettes affect the health of those who use them and anyone who might inhale second-hand vapor. A recent study suggests that e-cigarettes are not emission-free and their pollutants could be of health concern for users and secondhand smokers.